Minnesotans have a reputation for supporting many causes and organizations, and the Veterans of our state enjoy the benefits of a caring and generous community.

The Minnesota Veterans Homes are honored to receive support through volunteerism, activities and events, supplies and monetary donations that all enhance the experience of our Veteran Residents and spouses. The three State Veterans Cemeteries also receive donations from both individuals and Veterans Service Organizations. And special initiatives such as ending Veteran homelessness or preventing Veteran suicide are also recipients of community support.

Donations are as varied as the donors who make them:

• The Luverne Veterans Home is the grateful recipient of tremendous community support, with many items contributing to Resident comfort such as towel warmers, physical therapy and medical equipment, soft serve ice cream machine, recliners and televisions.
• The local Boots on the Ground organization sponsors an annual motorcycle fun run with proceeds going to the Fergus Falls Veterans Home. The donations provide supper outings to local restaurants, breakfast outings, and recreational outings such as air shows, fishing trips, parades and patriotic celebrations.
• Since the COVID pandemic began more than a year ago, iPads have been an important tool to provide virtual visits between Residents and their families. Local Veterans Service Organizations funded iPad stands for the Minneapolis Veterans Home to provide a durable, mobile and adjustable support for the online visits.
• The Domiciliary Program at the Hastings Veterans Home was honored to receive donations to upgrade equipment for the on-site woodshop, support a Resident kitchen renovation, remodel the recreation room.
• Local Veterans Service Organizations have enhanced the living experience for the Residents at the Silver Bay Veterans Home by donating a new grill, sponsoring bingo parties complete with cash and candy for prizes, and providing radio-controlled airplane models that Residents are building and hope to fly this spring.
• At the State Veterans Cemetery in Duluth, the “Walking into the Unknown” memorial and Memorial Walkway that honor Vietnam Veterans with exposure to agent orange were constructed through a major donation effort with nearly $100,000 raised to fund the projects. This monument is what defines our Memorial Walkway.
• The beautiful grounds of the Preston State Veterans Cemetery are supported through a donated Ventrac machine, a “jack of all trades” all-weather lawn care device that serves as a finish mower with vacuum ability.
• A 6’ x 5’ cemetery information sign was installed outside of the Little Falls State Cemetery’s Administration Building thanks to a donation. Contributions like this enhance the cemetery’s ability to serve Veterans and their loved ones, while providing a lasting impact that will benefit the facility for years to come.

The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) is honored to receive these kinds of donations from the community as we fulfill our mission to serve Minnesota Veterans and their families. The MDVA website recently added an online donation function at /mdva/donate/index.jspMinnesotaVeteran.org/Donate. This new online donation function allows donors to use a credit card to easily make a donation to one of the Minnesota Veterans Homes, one of the State Veterans Cemeteries or to General Funds in the Central Office or Programs and Services Division. Charitable contributions to MDVA are tax deductible.

The agency also continues to welcome donations in person, via check sent in the U.S. mail, or donations of in-kind goods and services as needed.

Detailed information about giving opportunities can be found on our website at /mdva/donate/index.jspMinnesotaVeteran.org/Donate.